Work will be displayed in Tacoma Art Museum’s TAM Local: Community Art Space for the Superhero show from October 16, 2019 to December 26, 2019.

We will have an opening reception Thursday, October 17, 2019 in the TAM Community Art Space.

In celebration of this upcoming event, we will be featuring a BEST Artist Spotlight monthly series on the BEST website blog to share just a few of our BEST artists.

The articles will be featured until our opening reception event.

In this series, we’ll share the thoughts and inspirations of BEST artists who have embraced art on their life’s journey.

This month, we are focusing our spotlight on BEST Artist, Jennifer McCarthy.

Here’s more on the artist.

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Where does Jennifer McCarthy find her superpowers?

She finds them through music, art and words; even more so, she adores sharing these passions with others.

The Moses Lake, Washington resident blends music, art, and performance as a French and German language instructor at Big Bend Community College. Her language students engage with learning with singing songs; studies have shown that students learn better with music. She has also organized local “flash mobs” of singing foreign language students.

Jennifer also sings and performs on her own. Please check out her video below from a community talent show with her French adaptation of Bob Dylan’s song, Not Dark Yet.

To note, in the video, an artist is also creating a painting during Jennifer’s performance.

In addition to teaching and music, Jennifer loves to create art on canvas and paper.

Jennifer’s Connection to BEST: Jennifer is brain injury survivor, as well as supporting other brain injury survivors as a brain injury support group facilitator in Moses Lake. Jennifer obtained her brain injury in a car accident at age 14. She recovered, with the help of her loving family; however, at the time of her injury, there was not the kinds of support systems in place and awareness, as we have currently. Jennifer moved forward on her journey anyway, including completing school, studying abroad and obtaining her master’s degree in French. After moving from the East Coast with her husband in the year 2000 to Moses Lake, and then becoming a mom to two children, Jennifer began to learn more about her own brain injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and vision therapy. She was eager to share her story, share what’s she learned and offer support to others in the brain injury community.

Now, what if we had the opportunity to answer that question and explore the answers through art?

How would that look like?

Here are some examples:

The photograph above of the lion is the symbol of being brave. Brave is a superhero word, most definitely!

This painting above has vibrant colors. We could consider it bold (bold, just like a superhero).

Why are we talking about superhero characteristics?

Here’s why!

The Brain Energy Support Team (BEST) is thrilled and honored to share that we have that very opportunity coming this fall.

BEST is going to be participating in a community art installation at the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM). Work displayed in Tacoma Art Museum’s TAM Local: Community Art Space for the Superhero show from October 16, 2019 to December 26, 2019.

We will have an opening reception Thursday, October 17, 2019 in the TAM Community Art Space.

To learn more about the community art installation program and the museum, please click here.

We are calling all BEST artists throughout Washington State to share your art with us!

Here’s everything you need to know:

WHO: The Brain Energy Support Team (BEST) in partnership with the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM).

WHAT: A community art show at the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM). Work displayed in Tacoma Art Museum’s TAM Local: Community Art Space for the Superhero show from October 16, 2019 to December 26, 2019.

We will have an opening reception Thursday, October 17, 2019 from 5 pm to 7:30 pm in the Community Art Space at TAM.

BEST is seeking art from BEST Artists to share in the following forms: paintings, drawings, mixed-media collage, photography, 3D art, or sculpture.

WHY: What are the characteristics of a superhero? What it is about these traits that make superheroes special? The local artists of the Brain Energy Support Team (BEST) explore these questions through their art, along with their personal stories of the journey forward after traumatic brain injury. We cordially invite you to join us to celebrate finding our own superpowers, individual empowerment and the ability to thrive through art and artistic expression.

Okay, BEST Artists, let’s see your creativity!

HOW: Here are the steps to get started:

Step 1: Look at the Need to Know section below first to review this project. Requirements met? Great! Move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Think about superheroes. What are the traits of a superhero that stand out to you?

Step 3: Decide how you would answer that question through your art (see words and examples above for a little inspiration).

Step 4: Create your art (or if you have a piece of art that is ready that you’d like to share, feel free to share that with BEST).

Step 5: Tell us about your art. Email Kim Thompson at kimt@brainenergysupportteam.org and let her know what kind of art you’d like to share for the show. Kim will assist you in answering your questions and providing additional information.

We can’t wait to hear about your work!

Need to Know:

BEST Artists, here’s what you need to know to participate!

1. Participating BEST Artists must be affiliated with the Brain Energy Support Team (BEST) in one (or more) of the following ways:

a. support group participant

b. support group facilitator

c. volunteer

d. board member

e. Our BEST Space participant

f. BEST team member

g. Second Life (PEER Center/BEST) participant

h. BEST primary community partner/supporter/contributor

2. BEST artists must be a brain injury survivor, caregiver of a brain injury survivor or closely work with brain injury survivors in a support capacity.

3. Participating BEST artists must be a Washington State resident.

4. BEST artists will submit artwork to BEST via personal delivery to Our BEST Space in University Place, Washington, or by mail to the BEST mailing address on or before the submission deadline of Thursday, August 1, 2019, 5 pm.

5. BEST artists will provide an artist’s statement and specific details of the artistic medium and materials to BEST along with a photo of their work which may be used for promotional purposes.

6. BEST Artists must agree to have their work(s) displayed for the duration of the show which is October 16, 2019 to December 26, 2019.

7. BEST Artists will understand that BEST reserves the right to not accept an art submission for any reason.

8. BEST Artists understand that they are responsible for framing and having artwork display ready for any submitted artwork as appropriate and within the guidelines outlined by the Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) that will be included in the instructions when you contact BEST.

9. For artists outside of the Greater Puget Sound area that wish to submit their work by mail, art must be prepared appropriately for mailing and sent to BEST at the following mailing address: Brain Energy Support Team 3800A Bridgeport Way W. #393 University Place, WA 98466.

10. Need assistance in submitting your work to BEST? Have any questions or concerns about getting your art ready? Please reach out to BEST (Kim Thompson at kimt@brainenergysupportteam.org) no later than July 1, 2019 for assistance. We are happy to help you!

11. If artists have 3D works (mixed media collage, sculpture, large works), artists must contact BEST with art project information (size, materials, weight and other pertinent details) at least FOUR WEEKS prior to the art submission deadline of Thursday, August 1, 2019 5 pm. To note, due to space limitations and other guidelines established by TAM, these pieces of artwork must be approved by BEST and TAM in partnership first before submission to the show.

12. After the show, artists are welcome to display their works at Our BEST Space in University Place, Washington, for a time duration that they choose. If the artist would like their work returned to them right after the show, they will need to specify this preference to BEST any time after December 27, 2019. If artists wish to have their work returned, it will be available for pick-up after December 27, 2019 during BEST Space hours of operation or BEST will return works by mail to the artist if requested and the cost is reasonable and sustainable (large and/or heavy works, sculptures or other 3D art will not be eligible for return mail).